# Fugue Machine : MIDI Sequencer — Multi-playhead piano roll

> Multi-playhead piano roll music sequencer inspired by classical composition. (iPhone/iPad app by Alexandernaut.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fugue-machine-midi-sequencer/id1014191410 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Alexandernaut](https://appshunter.io/developer/508173422)
- Category: Music, Entertainment
- Price: $14.99 (on sale, was $19.99)
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 622 App Store ratings · 237 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 8 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-10-10
- Data updated: 2026-08-30
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fugue-machine-midi-sequencer/id1014191410/reviews.md

## What is Fugue Machine?

A music sequencer reimagined with multiple playheads.

"How Bach would have made a sequencer." (Create Digital Music)
"A musical feat." (Creator's Project)
"A new approach to sequencing." (XLR8R)
"A next generation music sequencer." (Ask Audio)

Fugue Machine Classic is a tool inspired by composition techniques used in Baroque music and Serialism — e.g. Bach’s canons and fugues, and Schoenberg’s twelve-tone technique. The idea was to design a tool to manipulate a melody’s speed, direction, and pitch, as well as play multiple variations of the melody simultaneously.

As it turned out, the best implementation for this was to reimagine one of the most fundamental building blocks of all music sequencers: the piano roll.

Fugue Machine Classic is the world’s first multi-playhead piano roll. Create a music sequence and play it back with up to four playheads at once — each at various speeds, directions, pitches, and more. Watch the playheads dance, and hear the complex patterns that emerge.

It’s mesmerizing.

Fugue Machine Classic supports iPhone, iPad, MIDI, AUv3 MIDI, Ableton Link, Audiobus, Audiobus 3 MIDI, and Inter-App Audio. Thanks to the AUv3 standard, you can run multiple instances of Fugue Machine Classic on a single device when hosted in an AUv3 MIDI host app — like AUM, Logic Pro for iPad, Loopy Pro, and Cubasis.

## Key features

- Multi-playhead piano roll
- Manipulate speed, direction, and pitch
- Create complex melodic patterns
- Inspired by Baroque and serialist music
- Supports MIDI, AUv3 MIDI, Ableton Link
- Inter-App Audio and Audiobus compatibility

## Recent user reviews (10 of 237)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fugue-machine-midi-sequencer/id1014191410/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Great sequencer

*2025-12-07*

Enjoying it! Would be even better if it would support notes input via MIDI

### 5/5 — Very powerful

*2025-11-28, version 1.5.23*

This is very very convenient for getting as much as you can out of a simple melody.

### 3/5 — Exceptional Midi Controller With Major Flaw

*2025-08-27, version 1.5.23*

Would be substantially better if you could use midi to input notes onto the piano roll. Being required to use the touch screen alone to input notes is tediously unnecessary.

### 3/5 — There is no discount on bundle for classic owners

*2025-05-26, version 1.5.22*

There is no discount on bundle for classic owners. It’s actually a penny more through the bundle.

### 1/5 — Are you Seriously Going to over charge

*2025-05-23, version 1.5.22*

Price gouging for your apps on iOS 
A community will be built to watch 
For these type of Developers.
We understand how much it
Takes be fair, that’s all we ask fair 
but keep in mind we consumers
Who make or break the sales of an app.

Price gouging is the act of taking unfair advantage of a situation, like a disaster or emergency, to sell goods or services at prices that are significantly higher than normal. It often happens when demand is high and supply is limited, and the seller can charge excessive prices because customers are desperate

### 1/5 — Lack of Support and Updates

*2025-05-20, version 1.5.22*

I’m very disappointed the features of the new Fugue Machine Roboto app weren’t simply brought into this app as an update for a reasonable price. The fact that an “update” is $80 with no discount for owning the original app is frankly ridiculous and an insult to the iOS community that supported this developer. Compared to what you can get for $80 from other developers’ apps on the App Store, the successor to this app is a joke.

### 5/5 — Wonderful creative tool

*2024-12-31, version 1.5.21*

This is one of my all time favourite apps, it can create the most beautiful and interesting melodies based on a very well designed user interface.
My only wish is to be able to have different loop lengths for each track, it would make endless possibilities for counterpoint and phasing music. Fingers crossed this becomes a feature.

### 5/5 — Digitone’s Best Friend

*2024-11-03, version 1.5.21*

I wish so badly that it was possible to input midi notes without having to touch the screen. Being able to input with a midi keyboard would be a huge game changer. No the less.. this tool is absolutely amazing.

### 5/5 — The best!

*2024-10-01, version 1.5.21*

Simply the best sequencer ever made.

### 5/5 — MacBook

*2024-08-25, version 1.5.21*

Absolutely love this! Would be great if it worked or could be used in DAW on my MacBook Pro :)

## Frequently asked questions about Fugue Machine

### What is Fugue Machine?

Fugue Machine is a music sequencer that reimagines the traditional piano roll with multiple playheads. It allows users to create and manipulate melodies with up to four playheads simultaneously, each with independent control over speed, direction, and pitch.

### What are the key features of Fugue Machine?

Key features include its unique multi-playhead piano roll, the ability to manipulate melody parameters like speed and direction, and its inspiration from classical composition techniques. It also supports MIDI, AUv3 MIDI, Ableton Link, Audiobus, and Inter-App Audio.

### How much does Fugue Machine cost?

Based on the provided information, Fugue Machine is a paid application. There are no mentions of in-app purchases or advertisements, suggesting a one-time purchase model.

### What devices is Fugue Machine compatible with?

Fugue Machine supports iPhone and iPad. It also integrates with other music production tools through MIDI, AUv3 MIDI, Ableton Link, Audiobus, and Inter-App Audio.

### Who is Fugue Machine designed for?

This app is designed for musicians, composers, and electronic music producers who are looking for an innovative sequencing tool. Its unique approach to melody manipulation makes it suitable for experimental sound design and complex musical arrangements.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.5.23 — 2025-07-05

- improved AUv3 behavior when the host is cycling around a loop.
- fixed issue where the more menu's navbar/toolbar had a clear background when presented in some AUv3 hosts.

### 1.5.22 — 2025-05-20

- renamed to Fugue Machine Classic to coincide with the release of Fugue Machine Rubato

### 1.5.21 — 2024-08-23

- fixed a potential launch issue affecting the standalone app when running on iOS 12

### 1.5.20 — 2024-07-16

- Fugue Machine Audio Unit (FMAU)’s timeline now properly restarts when its AUv3 Host sends it a Reset message. AUv3 Hosts send Reset messages to plug-ins in various situations, most notably here when you use the host to enable/disable loaded instances of FMAU. Prior to this version, if an instance of FMAU and its host were both running, if you were to disable the FMAU instance and then enable it again, there would be a CPU spike the moment you enable it. Fixed now. And thanks to the fix, a new possible use case: enabling/disabling instances of FMAU in the host now effectively launches/stops them on the host’s musical grid, which can be quite fun. Thanks to Gavinski of Gavinski’s Tutorials for catching the issue and inspiring the new use case.

### 1.5.19 — 2023-05-28

- Updated network permissions, resolving an Ableton Link connection issue introduced in 1.5.17 
- Updated About page

## Apps similar to Fugue Machine

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Mela – AUv3: Synth, FX, MIDI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mela-auv3-synth-fx-midi/id1668299428) | 4.8 (79) | Free | Music |
| [AudioKit Synth One Synthesizer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/audiokit-synth-one-synthesizer/id1371050497) | 4.9 (26,818) | Free | Music |
| [SnakeBud - AUv3 MIDI Sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snakebud-auv3-midi-sequencer/id1568600625) | 4.6 (16) | $6.99 | Music |
| [Sunrizer synth](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunrizer-synth/id443663267) | 4.7 (183) | $12.99 | Music |
| [Cubasis 3 - DAW & Music Studio](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cubasis-3-daw-and-music-studio/id1207839273) | 4.6 (3,456) | $49.99 | Music |
| [Navichord • chord sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navichord-chord-sequencer/id916452748) | 4.7 (586) | $7.99 | Music |

## More apps by Alexandernaut

- [Arpeggionome Pro \| matrix arpeggiator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arpeggionome-pro-matrix-arpeggiator/id582627943)
- [Arpeggionome for iPhone \| matrix arpeggiator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arpeggionome-for-iphone-matrix-arpeggiator/id628246058)
- [Link to MIDI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/link-to-midi/id1066216595)
- [Fugue Machine Rubato](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fugue-machine-rubato/id6670253122)

All apps by Alexandernaut: https://appshunter.io/developer/508173422

## Related topics

[prism midi sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/prism-midi-sequencer) · [fugue machine rubato](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fugue-machine-rubato) · [fugue machine](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/fugue-machine) · [midi sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/midi-sequencer) · [midi strummer auv3 plugin](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/midi-strummer-auv3-plugin) · [music sequencer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/music-sequencer)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-30.*